Werekill vs BOB SAGET! DA Debate: Legalization of marijuana

[BOB SAGET!]

Alright I'm for the legalization of marijuana and Werekill is against it. This a devil advocates debate.

 

[BOB SAGET!]

I'd like to start off by asking you why you think Marijuana should be and stay illegal.

 

[Lore]

Gah, I've been really busy, and I apologize. If you could wait just a bit longer, I would be extremely grateful.

 

[Lore]

(for the sake of the debate, I will take the side of a person who hates all drugs. All posts from now on will be in character.)

Marijuana shouldn't ever be legalized, and to be honest, the benefits of legalization are severely outnumbered by the negative aspects.

One of the main arguments for weed legization is that it is pretty much the same thing as a cigarette, but I say otherwise. Cigarettes have long-term effects but no real short-term effects, but smoking a joint is the same as drinking (insert number here after I find the source) alcoholic drinks.

When I say this fact, I'm not worrying about the dangers to the smoker; I'm more worried about the dangers to innocent people. This country already has a huge problem with drunk drivers causing accidents, and if an alternative to alcohol is made widely available, I find no reason to believe that the number of accidents caused by a driver under the influence won't increase, which could increase the danger to pedestrians and other drivers.

Marijuana-caused dui cases could also increase the problem of overcrowding in most jails. If many people (exact number will be found if you ask for it) are already in jail because of dui, should we really legalize another way to attain dui status? Jails already take a lot away from taxpayer money, and money gained by taxing weed will likely be offset by the new "guests" in jail.

Legalization could also lead to even more teens and children smoking weed. Let's face it; it's relatively easy for a teen or kid to obtain tobacco or alcohol, and it isn't that much of a stretch to believe that the high number of smoking or drinking teens is a good example of what will happen if marijuana becomes just as easy to get.

Sources will be posted upon request. I'm on my iPod, and it's difficult to find sources and post at the same time.

 

[BOB SAGET!]

I had an entire arguement to post but the internet stopped working right before i posted it. I'll post it as soon as possible.

 

[BOB SAGET!]

One of the main arguments for weed legization is that it is pretty much the same thing as a cigarette, but I say otherwise. Cigarettes have long-term effects but no real short-term effects, but smoking a joint is the same as drinking (insert number here after I find the source) alcoholic drinks.

You say drinking is like smoking a joint......In the 1920's and early 30's, alcohol was prohibited in the USA. However people still wanted to drink, therefore "underground" bars started to appear, secretly serving liquor to customers. These bars were run by gansters. Corruption was common because of this. Some of these gangsters bribed police officers to ignore their business. These gangsters also sold alcohol amongst themselves. Conflicts between these gangsters often ended up with people killed. Today, the conflicts are over drugs and people are still being killed.

Alcohol is by any defenition, a mind altering drug just like marijuna. However, alcohol is perfectly legal. It's even sold in the white house, for chirst sakes! Every American has the right to be as drunk as they want as long as they don't harm anybody. And that's the way it should be, for any country that calls itself "free." People have the right to put whatever they want into there own bodies as long as they don't harm anyone else. Why is the law different for marijuana? Why are we repeating the failure of the 1920's?

When I say this fact, I'm not worrying about the dangers to the smoker; I'm more worried about the dangers to innocent people. This country already has a huge problem with drunk drivers causing accidents, and if an alternative to alcohol is made widely available, I find no reason to believe that the number of accidents caused by a driver under the influence won't increase, which could increase the danger to pedestrians and other drivers.

Marijuana-caused dui cases could also increase the problem of overcrowding in most jails. If many people (exact number will be found if you ask for it) are already in jail because of dui, should we really legalize another way to attain dui status? Jails already take a lot away from taxpayer money, and money gained by taxing weed will likely be offset by the new "guests" in jail.

The fact is, a study from researchers based at Hartford Hospital show that driving under the influence of marijuna causes you to be easily distracted. This shows it is not the effects of Marijuana it self that poses the most risk while under the influence, rather the actions of those while driving. While alcohol, according to

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/impaired/ says: "Drinking and driving is a deadly combination. One drink can reduce your ability to concentrate and react to things that happen suddenly while you are driving. The more alcohol in your blood, the more difficulty you have judging distances and reacting to sudden hazards on the road. To make matters even worse, your vision may become blurred."

Using cell phones while driving has also shown to be dangerous. Should we arrest anyone who has cell phones. Same with alcohol, should we do what we did in the 20's? More people are smoking pot then being arrested for dui under marijuana. Most people are arrested for personal use of marijuana. We are crowding our prisons with non-violent drug offenders, costing us lots of money and our court systems time. When they should be focusing on violent offenders. http://drugwarfacts.org/cms/?q=node/53

Legalization could also lead to even more teens and children smoking weed. Let's face it; it's relatively easy for a teen or kid to obtain tobacco or alcohol, and it isn't that much of a stretch to believe that the high number of smoking or drinking teens is a good example of what will happen if marijuana becomes just as easy to get.

Sources will be posted upon request. I'm on my iPod, and it's difficult to find sources and post at the same time.

The fact is, prohibition makes it easier for children to obtain marijuana. Marijuana dealers don't care about how old you are. They just want the money. It's harder for kids to get alcohol because it's legal and regulated to keep away from kids. Who's more likely to give weed to a child, a criminal or a store clerk with his/her job on the line?

I'd like to see your sources.